Is Tsugaru Lacquer Girl Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2023)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Tsugaru Lacquer Girl (2023), audiences are invited back into the world of Drama. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Keiko Tsuruoka’s film is at once traditional and contemporary: it gently mixes present-day gender and sexuality politics with the old-fashioned Japanese domestic drama. Traditional lacquerwork kitchenware is the Aoki family’s legacy, handed down to patriarch Seishiro (Kaoru Kobayashi) by his now-ailing father (Masayuki Suzuki). Seishiro expects to pass it in turn to his son Yu (Ryota Bando), but Yu has no interest in the craft—quite unlike daughter Miyako (Mayu Hotta), who loves it dearly. The stage is set for conflict, as established cultural traditions collide with modern mores…"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Mayu Hotta's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Drama. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Tsugaru Lacquer Girl worth your time? If you appreciate Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Tsugaru Lacquer Girl is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 118 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.